# NTSB LAX96LA324: Cessna 172N, N9315E, Auburn, CA, August 29, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 1996, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Auburn, CA - Coordinates: 38.920055, -121.069808 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9201&lon=-121.0698&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 5, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29551 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29551/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA324 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged landing flare and improper bounced landing recovery. A contributing factor was his lack of recent flying experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - not attained, pilot in command - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis According to the pilot, at the conclusion of his 2.5-hour-long flight he entered the traffic pattern and observed that the airplane was slightly high. On final approach, he believed that the airplane was slightly low, so he reduced the landing flaps to the 10-degree setting. He then realized that he had misjudged his altitude and was, in fact, high. The pilot further reported that he misjudged the airplane's rate of descent, which he characterized as excessive, and the airplane touched down hard on the runway. Thereafter, the airplane bounced, recontacted the runway, bounced again, and came to rest with a collapsed nose gear strut and bent firewall. The pilot had received a biennial flight review the morning of the accident flight. Prior to the BFR, he had not flown an airplane in 2 years. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 1996, at 1630 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N9315E, experienced a hard landing at the Auburn Municipal Airport, Auburn, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and neither the private pilot nor the passenger was injured. The flight originated from Lompoc, California, at 1400. According to the pilot, he made a traffic pattern approach to the airport and was slightly high on the downwind leg. On final approach, he believed that the airplane was slightly low, so he reduced the landing flaps to the 10-degree setting. He then realized that he had misjudged his altitude and was, in fact, high. The pilot further reported that he misjudged the airplane's rate of descent and attempted a short field landing. He attempted to flare, but the airplane continued its "excessive rate of descent" and it contacted the runway, bounced, recontacted the runway, bounced, and came to rest with a collapsed nose gear strut and bent firewall. Regarding the pilot's currency, he received a biennial flight review the morning of the accident flight. Prior to the BFR, he had not flown an airplane in 2 years. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9315E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9315E), registered now, S/N 17272221 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272221 - Airframe hours: 6056 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gene E. Schlimmer - Registered owner: William D. Tresky - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 1996 - Departed: LPC, LOMPOC, CA - Destination: AUN - Airport: AUN, Auburn Municipal, runway 25, 3,100 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 100 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 102 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19960829029779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960829029779A), Aug 29, 1996: Cessna 172N, Auburn, CA, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 29, 1996, at 1745 hours pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N9315E, experienced a hard landing at the Auburn municipal airport, Auburn,… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.